Deadly blaze sweeps Spain, 12 dead, 23 missing

A fast-moving wildfire has killed at least 12 people and left 23 others missing in southern Spain, making it one of the deadliest blazes to hit the country in recent years as firefighters race to contain the inferno amid scorching temperatures and powerful winds.

The fire erupted late Thursday near Los Gallardos in Almería province, rapidly sweeping through dry vegetation and a rural area popular with expatriates, including many British residents. Authorities said the blaze spread at an extraordinary pace, covering about 15 kilometres in just two hours, leaving many residents with little time to escape.

Emergency officials said most of the victims died while attempting to flee the flames despite repeated instructions to shelter in place. Some were found trapped inside vehicles, while others perished on foot after becoming surrounded by the advancing fire.

Authorities believe several of the victims were foreign nationals, with reports indicating that British citizens may be among the dead. Identification of the bodies is expected to rely on DNA testing because of the severity of the burns.

More than 150 firefighters, supported by 220 military personnel, helicopters and aircraft, have been deployed to battle the blaze, which has already consumed more than 3,200 hectares (about 7,900 acres) of land. Around 1,000 residents have been evacuated as emergency crews continue searching for those still unaccounted for.

Among the survivors was British resident Jeanne Henny, who described the terrifying moments as the wildfire closed in on her home.

“I thought it was a Sahara sandstorm because the sky was yellow,” she said, before realising the smoke was from an approaching wildfire.

She described the scene as “surreal”, recalling how flames suddenly blocked the main road as she attempted to evacuate with a wheelchair-bound friend and two dogs, forcing her to execute a dangerous three-point turn on a narrow mountain road to escape.

Investigators are examining the cause of the fire, with early reports suggesting it may have been triggered by a fallen power cable, although the utility company has disputed that account.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed his condolences to the victims’ families, while regional officials described the disaster as one of the worst wildfires ever experienced in Andalusia.

Authorities warned that the combination of extreme heat, drought and strong winds continues to create dangerous conditions, raising fears of further wildfires as southern Europe endures another intense summer heatwave.